The impact of a dedicated coronavirus disease 2019 primary angioplasty protocol on time components related to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction management in a 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospital

Background Primary per-cutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) as treatment of choice for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) should be performed rapidly. Applying preventive strategies during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak as an ongoing major global concern is necessary. However, critical times in STEMI management may be influenced by infection control protocols implementation. Aims To investigate the impact of our dedicated COVID-19 PPCI protocol on time intervals related to STEMI care and catheterization laboratory personnel safety and to determine a median of 70-day outcome during this outbreak compared with the same duration in previous year as a sub-endpoint. Methods The patients with STEMI who underwent PPCI were included. Chest Computed tomography (CT) imaging and real time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) were performed for COVID-19 suspected patients. One hundred and seventy-eight patients from February 29th to April 30th, 2020 were compared with 146 patients from March 1st to April 30th, 2019. Results COVID-19 infection was confirmed by rRT-PCR in 7 cases. CT imaging in 6 out of 7 patients was in favor of COVID-19. There are no statistically significant differences between the groups according to critical time intervals for reperfusion in STEMI. Seventy-day mortality before and during outbreak was 2.73% and 4.49%, respectively (P = 0.40). Conclusions Implementation of the dedicated COVID-19 primary PCI protocol for patients with STEMI allowed to achieve similar target times for reperfusion and short-term clinical outcome in comparison to pre-pandemic era and staff safety.